Office security strategy: what to think about to keep your office building safe
Having the right security strategy in place for your office building is more important than ever at a time when hybrid working means there are fewer people on site each day. Fluctuating occupancy patterns can leave your office quieter and more vulnerable to break-ins, while lower footfall can mean suspicious activity goes unnoticed. So, what should you be thinking about to keep your premises safe and secure?
CCTV is still the foundation
A carefully considered CCTV system is still the backbone of office security, and with advances in Artificial Intelligence, modern ‘smart security’ goes far beyond simply recording footage. High-definition cameras now go hand-in-hand with intelligent analytics that can detect and alert you to unusual behaviour in real time, not just review incidents after the fact.
Whether you monitor your own footage or sign up for our 24/7 monitoring services, CCTV is a must for keeping both indoor and outdoor spaces under surveillance and alerting you to signs of trouble. The goal is to achieve full situational awareness, giving you complete visibility over what’s happening across your site at any given time, whether your building is bustling with activity or nearly empty.
Key areas to cover indoors include entrances and exits, reception, lift lobbies and corridors. Outside, car parks, bike storage areas and delivery zones are common weak spots. You may find thermal cameras helpful for keeping an eye on your external perimeters, as they can see further and in low visibility.
Control who goes where
Access control is another vital arm of your security strategy, and there are a number of options to choose from depending on how secure you need your office to be. These include:
● Cards and fobs – still widely used because they’re simple and cost-effective, but they’re also prone to loss or misuse.
● QR codes or mobile credentials – ideal for easy, everyday staff access to different parts of your building, as well as for granting temporary visitor access.
● Biometric access – such as fingerprint or facial recognition. This offers high security and eliminates issues with lost cards.
Of course, not everyone who enters your office should have the same level of access, and your system should reflect that. A good access control system will allow you to define where someone can go based on their role, department or even time of day. This limits risk and creates a clear audit trail of who’s been where.
For example, a finance team member may access secure offices but not the server room, while cleaning staff may only enter certain areas outside working hours. Visitors or contractors should have their access permissions revoked as soon as they leave your premises.
Don’t forget car park security
It’s easy to overlook the role vehicle access has in your office security, but car parks can be a major vulnerability. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR / LPR) systems allow you to:
● Control which vehicles can enter
● Log all movements and create a clear record in case of incidents
● Identify unauthorised access
● Grant permissions to staff vehicles
● Set time-based access for deliveries
And there’s an added bonus: ANPR / LPR also helps prevent misuse of parking spaces and improves your overall site management.
Optimise your office energy efficiency
Finally, and on the subject of added bonuses, did you know that your office security systems can also contribute to your sustainability strategy? We can optimise your energy use by programming your system to reduce lighting, heat and air conditioning settings in unoccupied zones, saving money and reducing your environmental impact. Proof that a smart security strategy protects more than just your building!
Planning your office security
The most effective office security strategies build in CCTV, access control and ANPR to give you a single view of your site, faster response times and better data for investigations and compliance.
If you’re interested in learning more about the security systems and services we offer to office buildings across all sectors, find out more about our services or drop us a line today for a no-obligation on-site survey.